US President Trump cannot be pushed by anyone, Israeli opposition leader tells Euronews
US President Trump cannot be pushed by anyone, Israeli opposition leader tells Euronews
Yair Lapid, the Israeli opposition leader, asserted in an interview with Euronews that Donald Trump is unwavering in his decisions, dismissing claims that the attack on Iran originated from Israel rather than Washington. “Does Donald Trump strike you as someone who can be pushed around? I don’t think so,” he remarked, highlighting Trump’s role as the leader of the most formidable military force in human history. Lapid praised Trump’s resolve, stating that Israel holds deep respect for his boldness and clarity in addressing the conflict, which he described as a measure to safeguard global peace.
“He’s a determined man. Israel is filled with gratitude and admiration for his courage, for his moral clarity on the issue, for the fact that he decided to go into this war, understanding this is protecting peace on Earth.”
Lapid also noted that, aside from Melania Trump, he believes no individual can sway the former president’s actions. “I don’t think anybody can push Donald Trump to do something he doesn’t want to do,” he said, emphasizing Trump’s autonomy in decision-making. Meanwhile, the US declared that its military operations were “totally destroying” Iran’s government, spanning military, economic, and other domains, with Trump calling it a “great honour” to contribute to this outcome.
In a separate statement, Lapid discussed the broader implications of the conflict, stating that regime change remains a primary objective. “I think last January, when they took to the streets, and they were killed by the thousands, by the Basij and the revolutionary guards, they felt alone. And I don’t think they feel alone right now,” he said, noting that conditions for a regime shift have improved significantly.
“The conditions and the ability and the probability of them changing the regime have grown significantly. Now it’s up to the Iranian people. I hope for their sake, for the people of Iran, there will be a regime change.”
Lapid contrasted the actions of Israel and Iran, arguing that Tehran deliberately targets civilians. “The US-Israeli operation is targeting strictly military targets,” he stated, “while Iran is targeting Israeli and other countries’ civilian targets to kill as many civilians as possible.” When questioned about the alleged US strike on a school in Minab on February 28, which killed 175 people including over 100 children, Lapid called it “a terrible, terrible, horrible tragedy.” He acknowledged the tragedy but stressed that such incidents are inevitable in war, expressing sympathy for the affected families.
“Nobody wanted this to happen or intended for it to happen. Nobody’s claiming that war is not a horrible thing. Sometimes, even a just war is a horrible thing because there are casualties, and there are civilian casualties. And again, I send my condolences to the parents of those children.”
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Ali Bahreini, had previously accused the US and Israel of intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure. Lapid reiterated this point, emphasizing that Iran’s strategy involves deliberate attacks on civilian populations, while the US-Israeli coalition focuses on military objectives. He also noted that Iran’s vow of retaliation, as expressed by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, aligns with the country’s prior stance on Israel, underscoring that the regime’s actions have not changed since the conflict began.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, has intensified the war by involving Lebanon in the escalating military tensions with Israel. Lebanese officials shared with Euronews that Beirut has become a key battleground, reflecting the broader regional impact of the conflict.
